Portrait

“Freedom of research is a precious commodity”

Rahele Tavakoly's kitchen smells wonderful. Coriander, dill, parsley, fenugreek, and spinach are roasting in a large pan. Later, lime juice, beans, and browned lamb will be added. “Gormeh Sabzi is one of the most famous national dishes in my home country, Iran. And it's my favorite meal,” says the 39-year-old. As a doctor of nutritional science, she not only knows the value of good nutrients for our bodies. She also knows that certain foods and dishes have a positive effect on our mental health. For example, they can evoke memories and trigger feelings of well-being. When Rahele Tavakoly feels homesick, she goes to one of the many Arabic or Turkish supermarkets in Stuttgart to buy the ingredients for her mother's recipes and cooks a piece of home in Swabia.

The scientist is very happy to be in Germany and to be able to work at the Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health at the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart, even though she misses her family and friends in Iran. “Here, I can pursue my research according to my own ideas and decide for myself how and what I work on,” explains Tavakoly. Until 2023, she was an assistant professor of nutritional sciences at Kerman University of Medical Science, where she taught students and conducted research. She studies the effects of nutrition on health and the course of diseases, and prefers to link this to complementary medicine, which treats illnesses using non-medicinal methods and accompanies medical therapies.

“Unfortunately, the situation in Iran is not particularly good for researchers, especially for women in science,” Tavakoly says of her experiences. ‘Others wanted to decide for me what I should research and how I should work.’ When she realized that she could no longer teach, research, and live in her home country without oppression and censorship, she decided to leave Iran.

A gain for the Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health

The nutrition expert contacted Holger Cramer, professor of complementary medicine research at the University of Tübingen and scientific director of the Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health in Stuttgart. He immediately saw the potential for collaboration: “Rahele Tavakoly is an outstanding scientist whose research work is an asset to our institute.” Among other things, the Robert Bosch Center for Integrative Medicine and Health focuses on various non-pharmacological approaches that people can use themselves to stay healthy and become healthy. “Nutrition is a very important factor here,” says Holger Cramer, explaining one of the reasons for bringing the Iranian scientist to his institute. Another reason is the opportunity to support freedom of research for people like Rahele Tavakoly.

The nutritionist's position is funded by the Philipp Schwartz Initiative of the Humboldt Foundation. It awards grants to German universities and research institutions, enabling them to host foreign scientists threatened by war and persecution for two years. Rahele Tavakoly has now been living in Stuttgart for over a year. Here she can work on her research without risk or oppression. She finds it incredibly exciting to study the effects of nutrition on our physical and mental health. In order to provide scientific evidence of these effects and recommend courses of action, Tavakoly compiles and evaluates existing studies and data in meta-analyses. Specifically, she is currently working on epidemiological studies on dietary patterns and the occurrence of depression. Among other things, the researcher compares data on population groups that eat a Mediterranean, vegan, or meat-heavy diet with information on how often depression occurs in each group. “Laboratory results suggest that a pro-inflammatory diet high in red and industrially processed meat also leads to more depression,” says Holger Cramer.

Is this really the case in practice, in people's everyday lives? Rahele Tavakoly is trying to find out and scientifically test it. Her own everyday life is currently dominated by reading, statistical analysis, and discussions with colleagues. The Iranian researcher finds the interdisciplinary spirit at the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart enriching. “We share ideas, data, and insights and look at problems from different angles. That helps us all move forward.” She missed this kind of intensive teamwork and the motivation it brings in Iran.

Curious about the German healthcare system

The Philipp Schwartz Initiative grant is for two years. Rahel Tavakoly would like to stay in Germany longer. “Freedom of research is a valuable asset that is just as highly valued here as the work of women and young scientists,” she says. She would like to learn more about the German healthcare system and continue her academic work and career so that she can lead research projects and support young scientists in the future.

The 39-year-old likes German culture and the way people interact with each other. When she is not busy learning German, Rahele Tavakoly visits festivals and exhibitions in Stuttgart and the surrounding area, goes out into nature, or socializes with her colleagues. She is curious, also when it comes to cuisine. “Local food is always part of a region's culture. No matter where I am, I always try everything,” says the researcher. In Swabia, she is particularly fond of “Maultaschen” (filled pasta cases) and sausages. ‘It's not the healthiest food,’ admits the nutrition expert, ‘but it's really delicious.’ Enjoyment also plays an important role in nutrition and quality of life – just like the freedom to make decisions, educate oneself, and conduct research.